Dokdo spat poses dilemma for US

By Kim Young-jin

If two of your best friends are quarreling, is it wise to choose a side? That is the predicament facing the United States as Korea and Japan sling mud at each other over the Dokdo islets.

On Thursday, Washington made it clear it would remain equidistant between its key East Asian allies after weeks of skirting the issue, imploring the sides to avoid further escalation.

"Both of these countries are strong, important, valued allies of the United States," U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said in a press briefing. “It's obviously not comfortable for us when they have a dispute between them.

"Our message to each of them is the same: Work this out, work it out peacefully, and work it out through consultations.”

The statement over the spat, which erupted after President Lee Myung-bak’s Aug. 10 visit to the islets, highlights Washington’s concern that historical disputes could hamper efforts to boost trilateral ties, which it sees as a lynchpin for regional security.

The bickering hit a low Thursday with Seoul sending back a complaint letter written by Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda to Lee by registered mail, because Tokyo refused to receive it in person.

Japan has called for the issue to be taken up by the International Court of Justice. Seoul refuses, saying it is not a territorial dispute because Dokdo is “a Korean territory historically, geographically and under international law.”

“The U.S. would prefer that the matter not become an obstacle in broader security, political, economic and diplomatic objectives in the region,” said Daniel Pinkston, deputy project director with the International Crisis Group in Seoul. “Taking a side is a no-win situation.”

The Obama administration has been pushing for greater cooperation with Seoul and Tokyo particularly since 2010, when two deadly provocations by North Korea put the region on edge. The effort dovetails with its new emphasis on Asia, seen as an effort to shape China’s rise as an economic and military power.

President Lee, meanwhile, came into office with hopes to achieve a breakthrough on sensitive bilateral issues such as “comfort women” ­ㅡ Korean and other women forced to become sex slaves for imperial Japan during World War II.

The sides picked up trilateral cooperation after Pyongyang’s deadly shelling of Yeonpyeong Island, unifying their stance against further aggression. Last month, the sides agreed to launch a trilateral consultative body.

Seoul and Tokyo also came close to clinching a General Security of Military Intelligence Agreement that would have facilitated information-sharing on the nuclear-armed North. But a public uproar caused by the Lee administration’s hasty handling of the sensitive topic forced Seoul to walk away.

Some say Washington may have decided there is no viable solution and maintain a hands-off approach. Calls have grown, however, for the U.S. to broach the matter by encouraging trilateral cooperation.